What is the impact of National Anthems (lyrics and music tonality, measure) upon population?
Does the violence invoked in lyrics have any impact upon population; a positive or negative impact?
May the National Anthems be responsible for the increased aggressive behavior and violence among populations ?
Does the tonality of melody have any impact? What about the rhythm, does it have any influence?
In the paper “National Anthems and Suicide Rates” by David Lester of The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey and John. F. Gunn III of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, published in Psychological Reports, 2011,108,1,43-44. DOI 10.2466/12.PR0.108.1.43-44, ISSN 0033-2941 the summary mentions:
“In a sample of 18 European nations, suicide rates were positively associated with the proportion of low notes in the national anthems and, albeit less strongly, with students' ratings of how gloomy and how sad the anthems sounded, supporting a hypothesis proposed by Rihmer.”
Do you know of any countries that consider to change their National Anthem for any reasons, especially due to the invoked violence and/or the mood it creates?
As it is known in the neurolinguistics (Neurolinguistic Programing), the texts as well as certain sounds have a profound impact upon people's mind.
As an other example, I'll mention the anthems of France, United States of America (USA) and Romania , texts that contain blood, bombs, revenge, (perhaps discrimination as we find in the Romanian anthem).
Can anybody add to this study, reference, studies, and opinions please? All discussions will help a great deal.
Thank you,
Adrian Toader-Williams, PhD
National Anthem depicts nation. lyrics of National Anthem does not invoke violence but violence is inner feeling of human being.If we do not have National Anthem, not mean to say that countrymen are not violent.National Anthem have any positive impact upon population. National Anthem unite the community on a superficial level. Nationalism is associated with an ethnic,linguistic, cultural or religious identity. Nationalism can inspire strong feelings of loyalty and devotion, create a sense of pride toward national culture, develops a sense of common identity. If nation stress on peace then world peace is spread all around.
KIRAN GROVER, please read again the introduction statements. French , USA , Romanian etc anthems invoke lots of violence . Words such as blood and bombs and revenge in my opinion have no place in such texts , not when we talk about national identity.
The Australian national anthem is offensive to many first peoples here and to some others also as it gives away land that is not theirs to give. Recently a n indigenous woman sang her revised version, arousing fury and praise in equal measure. Dr Google will no doubt enlighten you further.
Thank you Karis Muller, Interesting to know about the Australian anthem . Will you be kind to attach some links please, Google can be confusing some time. I would like very much to obtain more details. China had the anthem changed, Swiss had an anthem competition for anthems, last year, 2015 or perhaps 2014 ? Obama considered changing the anthem for the reasons of violence. Some university in USA is prohibiting the intonation of the USA National anthem. I think it is an interesting subject to discuss, go in details.
Well Adrian you can start with www.creativespirits.info, which has several non racist versions of the horrible national anthem of 1879. I cannot sing it. I was referring to the singer Judith Durham, whose version is listed there. This topic alone could engender a paper. Where are you based?
Karis, I will look into it, the provided website . I do consider to write a paper on the subject. I started in fact. I am spending time in Los Angeles and also in Romania. Where are you based? Australia? Where ?
Karis, you refer to this SONG http://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/politics/national-anthem-advanced-aboriginal-fair#toc3
IT IS SOMETHING !
It is interesting the concept that national anthems bring people together in times of war...as a war veteran I can say that in all the time from Southampton to the Falklands, during hostilities (which we called removing the invaders) and post war the National Anthem was never played...so maybe in times of war it is used to bring together non-combatants so they are all for the war...the Stars and Stripes and National flag of USA was played a lot during the beginnings of the Vietnam war, but as historically recorded there were many who burnt the flag and rejected the National Anthem for reasons of peace...
Good , Adrian- So where are you based? Just interested. I was at the Australian National University in Canberra but now live in the bush near a small village. Please keep me informed about your work. Kevin's point is interesting. We do have an Aboriginal flag, which is flown from public buildings. Also ritual respects are paid to 'the elders' at all public events. But the anthem remains unchanged.
This is the new proposal as Romanian National Anthem, “Un Suflet de Român”, with a peaceful text by Adrian Toader - (Williams), music by Radu Goldis, choir arrangement by Adrian Enescu, voices of “Cappella Transylvanica” Chamber Choir from the Music Academy „Gheorghe Dima”, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, conductor Cornel Groza.
Official anthem’s page on Facebook @
https://www.facebook.com/310615869146838/videos/483674591840964/
or YouTube @
https://youtu.be/AT69lJkComw
The English translation will also be available soon.
Please listen! Comments? Appreciations? Any other proposal, ideas for Romania? For other countries? Please post, inform us here. Thank you.
Regards,
Adrian Toader-Williams, PhD
PS) MEDIAFAX News Agency article @
http://www.mediafax.ro/social/un-academician-din-cluj-cere-inlocuirea-imnului-national-cu-un-suflet-de-roman-scris-de-el-video-15290292
Please see for now:
National symbols - European Identity, Identities in Europe - Identité européenne, Identités en Europe
Violence in National Symbols, Flags and Anthems -„The importance of words and tonality as hidden aspects of national anthems” presentation at „Europäische Identität(en), Identitäten in Europa” - „Európai identitás(ok), identitások Európában” conference in Hungary.
https://youtu.be/HoEzSMohx44
SOON: Details and published article at www.adriantoader.eu
To some here the Australian anthem is met with derision- that bit about 'boundless plains to share'. The First Peoples have come up with alternative words. All on Internet. Good for an academic paper methinks- redneck violence if anyone dares change the words versus Greens/Amnesty members and First Peoples. Go for it.
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Psychology
- Social Psychology